My parents said screw buying expensive stuff for a while...they put me through a nearly 7k/year school just for high school, not sure how much my elementary and preschool cost per year...but for 15 years that's how it was. Private school. Then they had another kid who is also in private school, and costs have gone up. Probably the only thing my parents have ever done for themselves is buy a car, maybe a computer. My dad got his first new car in nearly 12 years in 2001. My mom followed just a month or two ago, but that was a used car. We eat off brands, we do what we can to save money, and my mom is always around (perks to working at a school now). My dad is evenings and weekends, and made every freaking practice, game, school event, whatever. Not a coach, just helping out and making sure he was there. There are still people out there that value their kids and center themselves around family, not things.
Good topic, Brian, it made me think about what I appreciate in life and how good I have it with my parents around, thanks. Even though I did play Sega
Edit: I just remembered that I'm not one of those punks who has to pay for everything I "have". I bought my cars with my own money, except my Mitsubishi, which my parents wanted me to get a loan to build credit. The only thing I don't pay for is insurance, that's one thing my dad will let me slide on since I am in school.